After severe flooding damaged a local assisted living facility more than a month ago, it's still unclear whether roughly 80 displaced residents will be back in their own beds by Christmas.
Brookdale Charleston Gardens had to evacuate all of its residents about 4 a.m. Nov. 2 when a water line to the building's sprinkler system ruptured.
Residents were temporarily placed at nearby hotels until accommodations were made for them at the Marriott Town Center downtown.
While a handful of those residents' families were able to care for them at home while repairs are made to Brookdale, the majority of them have been at the Marriott for the past month.
But no one seems to know for sure when they'll be able to return to the building in Northgate business park, which first opened in 2001.
Its parent company, Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, based outside of Nashville, Tenn., released a statement on Dec. 3 following a media inquiry with regard to the situation.
"Our top priority is to protect the health, safety and well-being of our residents and associates ... our staffing levels while at this hotel are within state requirements," the statement read, adding, "it is our hope that our residents are back in their homes at Brookdale Charleston Gardens by the end of this month."
One resident's family member, who asked not to be named in this story, said the facility has been "not very forthcoming" with updating families on the progress of the renovations. "Under these ridiculous circumstances, it's been mighty quiet," the family member said.
Shawna Zody, public relations manager at Brookdale's corporate office, said Tuesday that the company "continues to communicate with the displaced residents and their family members with meaningful updates via electronic means and traditional newsletters."
Charleston Gardens' newsletters provided on its website for November and December, however, make no mention of the incident.
In addition to the facility's damages, some residents also lost personal belongings in the flooding.
"Our team is still evaluating the damage of resident belongings and working with families on a case-by-case basis," according to the company statement.
Once renovations at Charleston Gardens are complete, the facility must pass several inspections before residents can move back in, including air quality testing, health department inspections and surveys by the fire marshal, according to the company's statement.
Seven residents who were staying in the facility's secure ward - for those with severe dementia or who pose an "elopement risk" - were placed at Sweetbriar Assisted Living in Dunbar for their safety, Executive Director Rhonda McDonald said.
"It worked out because we had vacated some rooms in the [secure] unit to do some remodeling, so we postponed that to care for those residents," McDonald said.
All Charleston Gardens employees are working out of the Marriott for the time being, including its kitchen staff, Zody said.
Repeated attempts to speak with Charleston Gardens Executive Director Donna Prowse were unsuccessful.
Reach Elaina Sauber at elaina.sauber@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-3051 or follow @ElainaSauber on Twitter.